System for tracking and analyzing ball location data

ABSTRACT

A system for tracking and analyzing ball location data has been developed. The system includes an active radio frequency identification (RFID) marker located within an object and an RFID signal receiver. Additionally, the system includes a mobile computer device, personal device, and storage database. Finally, the system includes an interface with outside computer programs and a visual display for users.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent No.61/930,046 entitled “System for Tracking And Analyzing Ball LocationData” that was filed on Jan. 22, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a system for tracking ball locationsand analyzing ball location data.

BACKGROUND ART

Golfers often lose track of their golf balls during the game due to theball's travel into surrounding wooded areas. This can cause variousissues for a player, including delay, penalization, and cost. Timedelays caused by searching for lost or errant balls have created “themost significant problem in golf: pace of play,” per Jack Nicholas. As aresult, attempts have been made to incorporate radio frequencyidentification (“RFID”) technology into golf balls in order to tracklocation with a corresponding receiver. However, these systems typicallyinvolve a standalone receiver, which the player must carry in additionto other equipment. In addition, these systems have been extremelylimited and can only provide a narrow set of data to a user.

An added difficulty for players involves the analysis of individualtechnique with regard to swinging a golf club. Again, systems forevaluating such have been utilized, but typically take place in anindoor facility rather than on an outside course. Therefore, a playercannot objectively evaluate his or her swing by using the golf ball'sultimate location, trajectory path, and other outside data, or trackprogress throughout an entire round of golf. Due to these issues, a needexists for a system that tracks a golf ball's location and trajectorywhile providing the capability to maintain past data and incorporatedata from outside computer programs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some aspects, the invention relates to a system for tracking andanalyzing object location data, comprising: an active radio frequencyidentification (RFID) marker located within an object; a RFID signalreceiver; a mobile computer device; and a personal device.

In other aspects, the invention relates to a system for tracking andanalyzing object location data, comprising: an active radio frequencyidentification (RFID) marker located within an object; a RFID signalreceiver; a mobile computer device; an interface with outside computerprograms; a storage database; and a visual display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

It should be noted that identical features in different drawings areshown with the same reference numeral.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the work flow of a system for tracking andanalyzing ball location data in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional diagram of the internal structure of agolf ball, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional diagram of the internal structure of agolf ball, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a visual display on a personal device inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of the work flow of a system for tracking andanalyzing ball location data in accordance with an alternate embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a diagram of the work flow of a system for tracking andanalyzing ball location data in accordance with an alternate embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of the work flow of a system for tracking andanalyzing ball location data in accordance with an alternate embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system for tracking and analyzing ball location data has beendeveloped. It should be understood that the present invention may beapplied to a broad range of industries outside sports, where objectlocation tracking in combination with outside data may be desired. Thepresent invention provides the capability to track the location andtrajectory of a golf ball, while maintaining a record of past locationsand trajectory paths. Additionally, the present invention provides thecapability to incorporate data from outside computer programs in orderto provide more complete information. Features of the system include: anactive RFID marker within the golf ball or other object to be tracked; areceiver for receiving the transmitted location signal; a mobilecomputer device for processing and analyzing the location signal; theability to visually display trajectory paths and location results on apersonal mobile device; interfaces with outside computer programs; andability to view, interpret and analyze data from a mobile application.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the overall functionality and work flow of asystem 20 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment, location data is provided by an active RFID marker 36located within a golf ball 10, which is more fully described below andis shown in FIG. 2. This data is received by a receiver 12, which inturn sends the location data to a mobile computer device 14. The mobilecomputer device 14 may perform a variety of functions, based on userpreference. For example, the mobile computer device 14 may contain astorage database for storing location data. Furthermore, the mobilecomputer device 14 may analyze the location data by comparing with pastlocation data, or incorporating outside computer data into a compilationfor user review. The mobile computer device 14 may analyze thetrajectory of the golf ball 10 with regard to past trajectory paths,thus allowing the golfer to objectively determine whether a change inswing technique affected his or her performance. In addition, the mobilecomputer device 14 may process the location data, or convert the datainto different formats, and provide output to a user's personal device16. The output data provided to the personal device 16 may be in aformat that will allow the personal device 16 to display informationsuch as swing speed, yardage, or distance by club in a visual manner.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional diagram of the internal structure of agolf ball 10, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. In this example, the golf ball 10 contains an inner core 32,as well as an outer layer 34. The golf ball 10 also includes an RFIDmarker 36, which is known to those skilled in the art to transmit asignal to a corresponding receiver. The active RFID marker 36 may beplaced directly within the inner core 32 or between the inner core 32and outer layer 34. Alternatively, the RFID marker 36 may be placedwithin the outer layer 34 at a location further outward from the core.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional diagram of the internal structure of agolf ball 10, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the golf ball 10 contains an inner core32, as well as an outer layer 34. The golf ball 10 also includes anactive RFID marker 36, which may be located inside the inner core 32.Varying methods for manufacturing a golf ball 10 with an internal activeRFID marker 36 may be used. Although not shown herein, it should beunderstood to those skilled in the art that a golf ball 10 may containvarious layers in addition to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and that anynumber of variations exist for the location and placement of the activeRFID marker 36 within the golf ball 10.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a personal device 16, as shown in FIG. 1, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In thisexample, the personal device includes a visual display 42, allowing forthe graphic representation of location data, trajectory path, swingspeed, and other output data from the mobile computer device 14. Thetype of data and manner of illustration which are shown by the visualdisplay 42 are dependent upon user preference.

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of the overall functionality and work flow of asystem 20 in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the receiver 12 is located within themobile computer device 14. When the receiver 12 receives location ortrajectory data, it may be directly linked to other functions within themobile computer device 14. The mobile computer device 14 may thenperform various functions as described above. In addition, the mobilecomputer device 14 may be linked to an interface 50, which will allowthe system 20 to incorporate data from outside computer programs. Thiscapability allows a player to maintain various data points with regardto the entire round of golf. For example, factors such as wind orprecipitation may affect the trajectory of the ball; therefore, a golfermay wish to record the location of the ball in conjunction with weatherconditions at the time. Incorporating data from an outside computerprogram for monitoring weather conditions would allow the player tomaintain such a record.

FIG. 6 shows a diagram of the overall functionality and work flow of asystem 20 in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the personal device 16 contains both themobile computer device 14 and the receiver 12. The inclusion of theseelements of the system 20 provides a more convenient manner for trackingand maintaining the data sent from within the golf ball 10 byeliminating the need for separate devices.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of the overall functionality and work flow of asystem 20 in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the personal device 16 contains themobile computer device 14. In addition, the personal device 16 may belinked to an interface 50 to outside computer programs. As noted above,the inclusion of various elements of the system 20 provides a moreconvenient manner for tracking and maintaining data. Although not shown,the interface 50 may also be located within the personal device 16, thusallowing the personal device 16 to access other computer programsinternally and incorporate and process other data directly.

Although the structure of the mobile computer device 14 has beendescribed in a limited manner, the present invention may be implementedusing a variety of structures for such. For example, the mobile computerdevice 14 may be composed of a microprocessor. Alternatively, the mobilecomputer device 14 may be a tablet computer, laptop computer, cellulartelephone with computing capabilities, other type of personal computingor mobile device, or Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

Although the structure of the personal device 16 has been described in alimited manner, the present invention may be implemented using a varietyof structures for such. For example, the personal device 16 may becomposed of a microprocessor. The personal device 16 may be a tabletcomputer, laptop computer, cellular telephone with computingcapabilities, other type of personal computing or mobile device, orGlobal Positioning System (GPS) device. In addition, the personal devicemay contain the mobile computing device 14 as described above.

An additional system feature may include the capability to store andprocess data using a specialized computer program located within thepersonal device 16. As a result, the present invention may provide thecapability to intelligently process and categorize data based on userinput to the personal device 16.

In summary, the present invention of a system for tracking and analyzingball location data has at least the following advantages:

-   -   providing the ability to monitor and record the location of a        golf ball;    -   providing the ability to increase the pace of play, reduce        average hours per round, and increase golf course throughput;    -   providing the ability to monitor and record the trajectory path        of a golf ball;    -   providing the ability to track the golf ball's location or        trajectory path with regard to past data and in conjunction with        other data, such as the specific hole on a golf course, or        weather conditions;    -   providing the ability to view location, trajectory, and other        data on a personal device;    -   providing the ability to perform the foregoing functions on or        with a smaller number of devices, such as the incorporation of        both the mobile computer device and receiver into the personal        device; and    -   providing personal and relevant swing data for analysis and        player improvement.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of thisdisclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised whichdo not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed here.Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by theattached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for tracking and analyzing objectlocation data, comprising: an active radio frequency identification(RFID) marker located within an object; a RFID signal receiver; a mobilecomputer device; and a personal device.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherethe mobile computer device includes a visual display.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, where the personal device includes a visual display.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, where the mobile computer device includes a storagedatabase.
 5. The system of claim 1, where the mobile computer device islocated within the personal device.
 6. The system of claim 1, where themobile computer device includes an interface with outside computerprograms.
 7. The system of claim 1, where the receiver is located withinthe mobile computer device.
 8. The system of claim 1, where the receiveris located within the personal device.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherethe RFID marker is located at the concentric center of the object. 10.The system of claim 1, where the object comprises an inner core and anouter layer.
 11. The system of claim 10, where the RFID marker islocated within the object at a radial distance outside the inner core.12. The system of claim 10, where the RFID marker is located between theinner core and outer layer.
 13. A system for tracking and analyzingobject location data, comprising: an active radio frequencyidentification (RFID) marker located within an object; a RFID signalreceiver; a mobile computer device; an interface with outside computerprograms; a storage database; and a visual display.